In 1800s, the word jeans referred to twill colton fabric used for trousers. It originated in Genoa, Italy and Nimes, France. It was later that what was the name of textile came to be associated with the garment.

Jacob Davis, a tailor and Levi Strauss, proprietor of a wholesale fabric house in San Francisco were the ones to get the patent for jeans in 1873.

Jeans were worn by the miners and labourers. They were distinguished by the copper rivets on the pockets which strengthened them.

In the 1920’s and 30’s, jeans became the uniform of the cool coco boys thanks to Hollywood stars John Wayne and Gary Cooper. Promotional material where celebrity actors Ginger Rogers and Carole Lombard wore jeans attract the attention of the fair sex. Vogue too gave its approval to jeans calling it western chic.

In the 1950’s jeans wore associated with rebellious antiestablishment youth. Rock stars adopted it. In the 1960s and early 70s, hippies and anti-war protestors adopted the outfit. Feminists too joined in making it a uni-sex garment. Jeans emerged as counterculture by the 60s.

In late 1970s and early 80s, jeans crossed the working class image and acquired in-fashion image. Jeans has the sex appeal.

To convey angst against conservatism and restrictions, jeans made a political statement in the 1970s.The ripped jeans signified this rebellion. It was called distressed denims. Ripping is done either by laser or by hand. There could be a slash at the knee. Rips are chosen, and are not random.

It takes lot of water to produce a pair of jeans. The dyeing consumes water. Chemical dyes are used to make distressed jeans. There are serious health hazards both to the worker and wearer.